<p>Hi everyone! Last year, I applied and got into Tulane University (my first choice), and had visited the campus and absolutely fallen in love. After putting my deposit down in Mid-april, I found out I was accepted at the Newhouse School of Syracuse University, and after thinking and re-thinking, I went against what my heart wanted and chose SU.</p>
<p>I have grown up around SU, being an hour away from campus, it always had a special place in my heart. Though after my first semester, I don't know if it is the place for me. Tulane gave me that "special" feeling most people get at their college of choice--and I was rather disenchanted by Syracuse.</p>
<p>Now I feel I may want to transfer for fall 2013. I want to gain a new sense of independence--and go farther away from home to a new and exciting place. While Tulane doesn't have the unique and prestigious program that Newhouse does, I'm still interested in attending. There is the closeknit campus, as well as the smaller size and draw of the city. Though maybe I am not aware of the repercussions of being a transfer and it will not be better off for me in the long run. I'm really torn, help!</p>
<p>If you want to go into broadcasting or other communications or media related fields, stick with Newhouse. Otherwise, follow your heart to Tulane. And no, there’s no stigma attached to transfers. You will still have a Tulane degree just like everyone else, and in any event Syracuse is not such a bad stigma to have. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Transfer rates in the most recent common data set for Tulane are something like 14%. Not all that promising. They have been having oversubscribed freshman classes, so there really isn’t much room for transfers, unfortunately. Of course, it can’t hurt to try, and you might get lucky.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that freshman year is the year for bonding with your new dormmates and very open, easy socialization. Transfers miss out on this, which makes it harder to find your niche and circle of friends. If you are the type of person who is very outgoing and likes to get involved, it might not be a big problem for you. But you would be very far from home, without the support of your family and old friends. Be realistic about your abilities to cope with possible loneliness or feelings of isolation in the first couple months.</p>
<p>A guidance counselor friend once told me that the only reason a student should consider transferring colleges is academics (program you want is unavailable, rigor is lacking, etc.). Her rationale was that other reasons for transferring tend to be things that won’t really change just by changing locations. It is usually best to stick it out and put your heart into making your current college work for you.</p>
<p>I tend to agree with nova2nola and especially the last paragraph, with one possible exception. There can be a real difference in being far enough away from home that you cannot just drive there every weekend or whatever. You have to make it so this situation doesn’t define your college experience.</p>
<p>While it is true that being in New Orleans and at Tulane would certainly be different than Syracuse, there is no inherent reason you cannot have a great experience at Syracuse. Being close to home is a “trap” that ensnares a lot of students. It is too easy to just head home on the weekends, and thus not achieve that feeling of independence. Throw yourself into activities on campus, and be open with your family that you need to do this. You should act as if you were 6 hours or 16 hours drive from home, not just one. Once you do that, the experience will become far more enjoyable most likely.</p>
<p>Hi everyone. Thank you very much for your replies–they were very helpful and insightful.
Today however I have received a letter from Tulane indicating I have been accepted for the Fall 2013 term, and am now even more torn! I do not have to make a decision for a while, however I am still weighing my options.</p>
<p>Congratulations! My daughter was a transfer student after her freshman year. She visited the school with her boyfriend and his family and fell in love with everything about Tulane. Because it was “his” school, she chose to attend another school but visited often enough to meet with Tulane administration and was accepted and switching to Tulane was the best decision she could make. She loves it so much that she decided not to do a semester abroad because she didn’t want to miss any more time away from New Orleans. She is not shy but also not an extrovert. She did decide to join a Sorority and loves it and she found this helpful in making the transition and making friends. Her other University was about a 5-6 hour car ride from home and now trips are less frequent but with the use of great technology (skype, facetime, etc.) we really don’t feel like she’s as far away as she is. Safety, as with any school in a city, is and will continue to be an issue, but I discuss this often with her and hope that she is smart and leave the rest up to good luck and God. There is NO other place quite like NOLA where the culture is so unique and rich. The weather is really nice too. Despite the hurricanes (we also had 2 in two years here in Connecticut) and some rain - I texted her a picture of my snowy yard on Wednesday of this week and she sent me a picture of the current temperature of 67 degrees! That HAS to be better than your weather now too. The professors and academics are outstanding - challenging but not impossible. Most of her friends study hard and (I’m sure) have fun too! Hope this two cents helped and good luck to you in making your decision.</p>
<p>Well, uh, yes, I AM nosy. But, in my defense, there are quite a few students who decide on a college based on where their signif other is going. How many of us have heard the stories of following the s.o. to a school only to break up before Christmas freshman year?</p>
<p>Yes they are together but they both have a very “healthy” attitude toward their relationship. They both went to Single-sexed high school and learned how to keep everything in check (a time of school, work, sports, boyfriend/girlfriends,and friends) in healthy amounts, and the importance of doing well in school. They also have had their ups and downs there and here (as in any relationship) but as of October they have been dating for four years. His Frat and her sorority keep them very busy too. D went to Catholic University as a nursing student. She had a wonderful scholarship and I loved DC, but fully support her decision (though my CFO husband does so through clinched teeth) to go to Tulane. She also thought that it might be a challenging transfer from Catholic U. to Tulane - but after a few months of being called “the Schvitza Goddess” (spelling?) she realized that - there is a group of friends for everyone at Tulane. Once again, Good luck in making your decision.</p>
<p>Vitrac - Of course you are right. That story is probably as old as universities being co-ed. Almost as common as high school couples that go to different schools but are positive they can keep the relationship intact anyway. That always goes well.</p>
<p>You will always wonder “what if” without trying the transfer. You know the risks…if the transfer is financially feasible, go with the “heart” decision and transfer. Good luck and keep us posted!</p>
<p>If you like skiing, then forget about New Orleans. Weather today in Syracuse is High - 21, Low 9, with a chance of snow. Weather in NOLA is High 75, Low 57.</p>
<p>One negative is the travel between the two cities (SYR/MSY). Flying will consume the better part of a day, and there are no direct flights.</p>
<p>It is true that travel takes up most of a whole day, but for most students that amounts to about 6 times a year. Move-in (1), Thanksgiving (2), Winter Break (2), and Check-out (1). Add 2 more if going home for Spring Break. Just my opinion, but I wouldn’t base such an important life-altering decision on a matter of an occasional inconvenience.</p>
<p>We are big skiiers (in fact, am in the midst of planning another trip). Both s’s love to ski, but both went to school in the south. When I went to college up north, I went skiing a grand total of 3 times during my college years (two of which were during winter break, if I recall correctly). Don’t make your decision based on that.</p>
jk</p>